The Kirin Tor (or Kirin-Tor) [ˌkɪrɪn ˈtɔɹ] is the elite[1] conclave[2][3] that leads the magical nation of Dalaran, one of the seven human kingdoms. Its members are some of the most powerful[1]magi of Azeroth. Once a secretive and selective order of magi that kept aloof from ordinary politics,[4] the Kirin Tor has since become one of the foremost factions standing against the threats posed to Azeroth's survival - among them the Scourge, the Blue Dragonflight, the Iron Horde and the Burning Legion.

History

The Crest of the Kirin Tor

As Dalaran became the chief center of learning for magicians throughout the land, the Magocrat lords originally formed the Kirin Tor as a specialized sect that was charged with cataloging and researching every spell, artifact, and magic item known to mankind at the time.[7] Some decades ago, the Kirin Tor was but a sect in Dalaran (the Kirin Tor Advanced Research and Illumination Sect being its full name or an honor society within it)[8] while the city-State was governed by the Council of Six, referred as the Ruling Council.[8] At some point, this school became the city's Magus Senate.[9]

Following the destruction of the Draenor, the Kirin Tor would take an interest in the defeated orcs' strange lethargy. The organization would discover orcs were suffering from a withdrawal of the demonic energies that they had become addicted to.[13]

During the Third War

Near the beginning of the Third War the Kirin Tor would take notice of a mysterious plague gripping the northlands. As such their Ambassador to KingTerenas revealed that the Kirin Tor were prepared to place the villages under strict quarantine. However the King declared that there would be no quarantine without proof of these claims as the people of Lordaeron had suffered enough.[14] Suspecting that the plague was magical in the nature the Kirin Tor would send Jaina Proudmoore accompanied by specialenvoys to assist.[15] The Kirin Tor would eventually learn that their suspicions were not only correct but that Kel'Thuzad, a former member of the organization, was responsible for spreading the plague.[16]

Under the direction of the demon lordArchimonde the Scourge led by the Death KnightArthas prepared to invade Dalaran in order to claim the Book of Medivh. However the Kirin Tor were prepared to fight the undead and had created magical auras that would harm any undead that enter the city. Despite this Arthas and Kel'thuzad were not deterred and were able to enter the city, kill the wizards maintaining the auras (which included the Kirin Tor's leader Antonidas), and claim the Book of Medivh.[17]

While the Scourge prepared to summon Archimonde into the world, surviving wizards of the Kirin Tor had teleported in an army.[18] As the Kirin Tor began their attack, Arthas ordered the Scourge to defend Kel'Thuzad at all costs; and despite their best efforts, the Kirin Tor failed in stopping the Scourge. Successfully summoned, the demon lord Archimonde destroyed Dalaran completely, claiming its annihilation heralded the Legion's first strike against the mortal world.

After the fall of Dalaran, surviving agents of the Kirin Tor such as Jailor Kassan pledged their support to Grand Marshal Garithos and the Alliance Remnants.[19] The Blood Elves, led by Council of Six member Kael'thas Sunstrider, came to reside in Dalaran and fought in its defense; however, the elves came under Garithos' prejudice against their kind, and were eventually imprisoned in the city's dungeons for consorting with the Naga, slated for execution. However, thanks to the timely arrival of Lady Vashj, the Blood Elves were freed and eventually found their way to Outland. While elves such as Aethas would vouch for the Kirin Tor's innocence in these events, others like Rommath would accuse the organization of looking the other way.[20] What role the Kirin Tor had in this, if any, and even the exact status of the Kirin Tor during this time is largely unknown.

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The destruction of Dalaran was a massive blow to the Kirin Tor, leaving its surviving members scattered and its leadership in disarray.[21] Eventually, though, they were able to reclaim their city. They erected a glowing dome around the entire city, powerful enough to destroy anyone who touches it, while they worked to rebuild their fallen city.[22][23]

At some point, the Kirin Tor cleared the naga from the Tomb of Sargeras and sealed the place.[24]

The Kirin Tor were also not knowledgeable about the Forsaken at first, believing them to be just another clan of undead.[25] The mages of Dalaran would eventually come into conflict with them, notably over the control of Ambermill in Silverpine Forest.

Wrath of the Lich King

Eventually, the mages were able to lift the whole city from its site, leaving only a crater in its place. The Kirin Tor decided to move their floating city to Northrend, where they still rule over the reconstructed Dalaran. The Kirin Tor proclaimed themselves neutral in the conflict between the Horde and the Alliance, and instead sought to help bridge the gaps between the two factions—starting with reaching out to Quel'Thalas for magical support against Malygos, the crazed Aspect of Magic.[26]

The presence of the Kirin Tor was indeed met with deep-seated revilement from the crazed Malygos, who made numerous attempts to destroy the city.[27] Malygos, whose war on mortal magic users reached its crux during the war against the Lich King, would ultimately be put to death before his vengeance against the Kirin Tor could be fulfilled. A number of Kirin Tor mages decided to help the blue dragonflight and Malygos transformed them into mage hunters.

The elven population of the Kirin Tor underwent something of a split: the portion of the elves who converted to the blood elven philosophy took up the name "the Sunreavers," named for their leader, Aethas Sunreaver, the only non-human on the Council of Six. Conversely, some high elven members opposed the notion of allowing the sin'dorei back into the Kirin Tor's ranks, and formed the Silver Covenant to oppose it. Its leader, Vereesa Windrunner, however, held no political sway within the city, thus leading to the blood elves officially being readmitted as members of the Kirin Tor.[28]

Tides of War

Jaina Proudmoore urged the Kirin Tor to support Theramore against the Horde armies massing at Northwatch Hold. The council agreed to send mages to help defend the island nation. Aethas Sunreaver cast the decisive vote in support of Theramore, reasoning that to do nothing would be to implicitly support the Horde's expansionism.

When Garrosh's true plan: to detonate a mana bomb over Theramore, is revealed; Rhonin sacrifices his life by teleporting Jaina and a few wounded defenders to safety. Rhonin pulls the bomb into the Theramore Tower, minimizing the damage caused by the explosion.

In the aftermath, Jaina replaces Rhonin on the Council of Six and as leader of the Kirin Tor. Due to Thalen Songweaver's betrayal at the defense of Theramore, the Sunreavers' credibility has been damaged.

Warlords of Draenor

The Kirin Tor's expedition into the alternate Draenor of thirty-five[29] years ago is led by Khadgar. Based at Zangarra in Talador, the Kirin Tor appears friendly to Alliance players and neutral to Horde players. Jaina has ordered all outsiders to Dalaran - especially the Horde - are not allowed on Kirin Tor grounds. Despite this, Khadgar says that as he is a member of the Council his friends - regardless of faction - are allowed in, and if Jaina has a problem with it she can take it up with him.[30] When Jaina arrives on Draenor, she expresses distaste that Khadgar allows the Horde to work with him at Zangarra. Jaina says the rest of the Council of Six would not approve and that she certainly does not.

The Kirin Tor were also responsible for maintaining a supply line between Draenor and Azeroth, but their holdout within the Everbloom, the Violet Bluff, was overgrown by Primals and most of its population infested. This turn of events nearly ended in a disaster, when the genesaurYalnu crossed the mage portal into the Kirin Tor overlook above Stormwind, where he was stopped before he could muster his strength and infest the city or even worse.

After the disastrous battle, Khadgar called for a vote to have the Horde return to Dalaran in order to have the Kirin Tor fight the Burning Legion at its utmost capability. Jaina was vehemently opposed, especially after the events of the Broken Shore, but she was outvoted in the Council of Six with only Ansirem Runeweaver voting "no" alongside her. Jaina left Dalaran and the Kirin Tor in anger and Khadgar became the council's replacement leader.[31] When the council next assembled, Kalecgos was seen as the sixth in Jaina's place.[32] The council later voted to allow Aethas Sunreaver back into Dalaran, although not as a member of the Six.[33]

Organization and headquarters

Within the conclave, there is an inner council: the Six, whom are the actual rulers of the city.[34] This governing body appoints one of their own as Head of the Kirin Tor[3](also known as Grand Magus of the Kirin Tor[35]); this master wizard[10] is essentially the ruler of Dalaran.[10]

The Kirin Tor's headquarters was the Violet Citadel, an impressive building so named for its stone walls which gave off a faint violet light. Separately, the conclave's senior council met in the Chamber of Air, a room with no visible walls — the gray stone floor with its central diamond symbol stood beneath an open sky that shifted and changed rapidly, as if the time sped past within the chamber.

In the RPG

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft RPG and is considered non-canon.

It is made up of 120 members.[22] They are divided in several levels of importance and influence.

Beneath the ruling council are the archmagi, each of whom is given tasks as the council sees fit. Archmagi do not hold specific positions or responsibilities, beyond the general loyalty to the Kirin Tor and to the world, and the standing obligation to study new human magic whenever it appears. In reality, however, some archmagi have been given the same tasks so often they have essentially assumed responsibility for those jobs. Thus one archmage might be in charge of cataloging all wands, while another handles researching and cataloging all illusions. Several work to monitor and maintain the city’s protective dome.[23]

Magi are the lowest members of the Kirin Tor, and answer to the archmagi. Any archmage in the sect can issue orders to a mage, provided the instructions still fit within the organization’s goals. As with archmagi, however, most magi settle into specific positions and tasks and work exclusively for one archmage. The ruling council can change this at any time but rarely does so, unless they feel a mage has become a problem in his current position, or if they need him for a different task. Most magi are allowed the freedom to pursue their tasks and studies in whatever manner they choose. Despite the fact that they are the lowest members in the hierarchy, many magi possess great power.[23]

Membership

Though primarily a human kingdom, the Kirin Tor has always housed a sizeable Thalassian minority. For over two thousand years, it was not uncommon for some of the long-lived elves to study and serve in Dalaran as well as Silvermoon. Relations were strained between the two magical kingdoms after the Third War (and further compounded by Silvermoon's alliance with the reformed Horde),[26] but the readmitted Sunreavers continued tradition somewhat until they were expelled from Dalaran. Most of the Kirin Tor's current high elf population is now part of the Silver Covenant, a militant wing of Kirin Tor defenders. The Kirin Tor also has gnomes, dwarves, goblins, and even a small handful of draenei in their ranks.

The gradual reintroduction of arcane magic into night elf society has in turn also slowly produced mages of that race. By the time Azeroth was ready to invade Tanaan Jungle on Draenor, night elf mages had joined the Kirin Tor, carrying out work such as maintaining a portal between Lion's Watch and Stormshield in Ashran.

This section concerns content exclusive to the Warcraft RPG and is considered non-canon.

Before the Scourge came, any human mage was welcome in Dalaran. They found peers and a place to stay and to work in peace. Magi with an eye for detail and a strong focus on research were offered membership in the Kirin Tor. This process could take anywhere from a few months to several years — the ruling council did not invite magi until it was sure of their abilities and allegiances. The Kirin Tor became even more cautious about admittance after Kel'Thuzad defected and took many other magi with him.[23]

Named

Being a collection of the greatest mages in the land, the Kirin Tor naturally has many members who have had significant effects on the history of Azeroth, including both great wizards and those who delved too deeply into necromancy, demonology, and other warlock magics.

Film universe

The Kirin Tor reside in the floating city of Dalaran. The Council of Six (also known as the Council of Kirin Tor and the Arch Council) rule from the Chamber of Air, located within the Violet Citadel.[36]

Members are branded on the forearm with the lidless Eye of the Kirin Tor, the symbol literally seared into their flesh by a magical white flame of uncertain properties.[37] When the member places their arm near enough, the flame snakes out and wraps around it, inscribing the pattern onto the limb. The pain is agonising and the member's flesh can be smelled as it burns.[38] The symbol not only identifies the mage as a member of the order, but can at times serve other, magical purposes.[39]

Guardian Novitiates appear to be tested for the position at the age of 11, and if successful, are branded with the Eye of the Kirin Tor.[36][40]

The Kirin Tor do not teach teleportation.[41] Medivh claims that the they fear it, and says that they should, since it is very dangerous.[41]

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